New Fringe Central is now open

The new Fringe Central is now open on Infirmary Street

This is an addition to the existing premises on the High Street which will become a larger box office and shop. The new Fringe Central will be a permanent gathering place for everyone who takes part in the Fringe, as well as being a new base for the Festival Fringe Society team.

Over the last year, the former schoolhouse at 6 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, has been refurbished, with accessibility and sustainability at its core.

New energy saving features include air source heat pumps which makes the building more environmentally friendly. The entire building is made more accessible with an accessible Changing Places toilet and a new lift, but the history and aesthetic of both the building and the surrounding area have been preserved.

Throughout the process the Fringe Society has worked with nearby schools who will benefit from access to the new building and arranged performances and workshops including Royal Mile Primary School, Sciennes Primary School and James Gillespie’s High School. The society has also worked with community groups including Canongate Youth who are co-tenants in the building and LGBT Youth Scotland, building on the relationships that have developed thanks to the Fringe Days Out project.

The Fringe Society said it is extremely grateful for the funding support from the UK Government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, The Foyle Foundation, SP Energy Networks Transmission Net Zero Fund, and Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund. The Fringe Society would also like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for supporting this project with the signing of a 99-year lease for the building.

Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: “Today is an exciting day for everyone at the Fringe Society, as we formally move into 6 Infirmary Street, which will be known from now as Fringe Central.  For nearly ten years we have had a desire to create a welcoming space for everyone involved with the Festival Fringe – from artists, producers and venues to Edinburgh’s residents and stakeholders across the city.

“We are extremely grateful to the UK Government, the City of Edinburgh Council and our wider funders and supporters for helping us realise this long-held ambition.  With just weeks now until the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, we can’t wait to open the doors to the thousands of participants coming to Edinburgh this August for the most important cultural event in the world.”

Ian Murray, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries, said: “The Fringe Society does fantastic work keeping the largest performing arts festival in the world thriving. It’s high time they have a permanent home, and I know this will support their great ambitions for the festival.

“I know from my summers working at the Edinburgh Fringe that it is all about bringing people together. This hub for the Society, the artists, producers and media is the perfect embodiment of that. I know everyone associated with the Fringe and the wider Edinburgh festivals will benefit hugely from the new hub.”

The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge said: “It is wonderful to see the vision for Fringe Central realised in this first look. As a year-round city centre base, this fantastic facility will provide a welcoming space for everyone involved in the Fringe festival while also creating valuable opportunities and space for local cultural organisations. It will serve as a hub for the outstanding outreach work carried out throughout the city all year round.”